Psychological Analyses Entry Four: Rainbow Dash

[Queen Cassie 3,057]

Psychological Analyses Series Links:

1. Fluttershy

2. Applejack

3. Rarity

5. Pinkie Pie

 

Rainbow Dash is the freest of spirits, a soaring soul that can't truly ever be tied down. As an athlete, she's phenomenal. As chief weathermare of Ponyville, she's excellent. As a friend, she's trustworthy, for the most part. But she can also be incredibly headstrong and stubborn, arrogant and brash, and fairly rude. Her Element of Loyalty is tricky to pin down, not because it's difficult to understand in and of itself, but because it can often be difficult to figure out when Rainbow Dash is actually exemplifying the Element.

 

But the truth is, Rainbow Dash lives her Element every day of her life. Loyalty isn't just about sticking up for one's friends and supporting them in their endeavors. It's also about being true to one's convictions, to their ideals, their hopes and their dreams. There are also levels of Loyalty, intertwined within each other. It may seem simple enough to stand up for your friends, support your home and your country, but what about when those conflict? When you have to choose between helping a friend or saving your home from destruction, who are you loyal to first? How do you cope with that decision?

 

Rainbow Dash probably doesn't concern herself with thinking things like that through during her day-to-day, because thinking isn't quite her strong suit. When she's faced with a problem, she just faces it head on, hooves up and ready to punch. Whether it's going straight after Nightmare Moon in the pilot, kicking a dragon in the face in Dragonshy, or any others of numerous examples, Rainbow Dash does not shy away from her problems. She fights through them. When she sees a problem she can handle, she'll swoop in to deal with it. She'll stand up for people if she feels she needs to.

 

Consider, for example, her decision to defend Fluttershy in Cutie Mark Chronicles, the decision that led directly to her performing the Sonic Rainboom for the first time, gaining not just her a Cutie Mark, but the rest of her future best friends as well. Thanks to Hurricane Fluttershy, we can now assume that Rainbow Dash was already friends with Fluttershy prior to this event, meaning she was happily swooping in to rescue her friend, just as she always would. I suspect the challenge for a race was Dashie's way of trying to get back at the bullies who'd been teasing them both.

 

Yet at times, as I said, Rainbow Dash is forced to choose between two different Loyalties. She may be friends with Fluttershy, but she also knows Fluttershy well enough to realize when she might become a burden. Her insistantly antagonistic attitude towards Fluttershy coming along in Dragonshy was not, as it might appear, her refusing to be loyal to her friend, but simply her choosing the loyalty to the Princess and to the mission over being sensitive. Rainbow Dash isn't exactly the most patient of ponies after all. Why waste time comforting Fluttershy when they had a problem they needed to deal with right then and there? They simply didn't have time to deal with Fluttershy's issues, so to Rainbow Dash she felt it would better to leave Fluttershy behind and deal with her later.

 

Rainbow Dash has made this decision on numerous other occasions as well. Gilda's return liked caused Dashie some heartache after the whole situation went straight down the tubes thanks to her having to force Gilda to leave. It'd been a struggling choice between her old friend, whom she'd been friends with for years, and her new friends that she hadn't known for very long, but she chose her new friends. Not because she wasn't being loyal to Gilda, but because Gilda had demonstrated she didn't deserve that loyalty any longer. (As an aside, I do have to wonder if Rainbow Dash ever discovered that Gilda had scared Fluttershy as horribly as she did. I could easily see Rainbow Dash decided to knock Gilda's head in after that.)

 

She's also shown loyalty to ideals. When she saw the Buffalo of the desert near Appleloosa losing control over their sacred stampeding grounds, she saw no reason to be loyal to the Appleloosans simply because they were ponies. She saw an injustice and she sought to correct it. And in her mind, the Buffalo had claim first because the land had been theirs for possibly centuries prior to the settlers moving in.

 

Then there's the way Discord played onto her sense of loyalty. I haven't addressed Discord much during these analyses because canon suggests the mind-warping Discord performed didn't have much of a long lasting impact on them psychologically. (Though my headcanon rules otherwise, I can't exactly fill these analyses with too much of that.) But Discord played her perfectly like a harp because he forced her again to choose between two loyalties, in this case loyalty to home or loyalty to her friends. And, as before, Rainbow Dash is consistent in her approach: she chooses the immediate problem over the long-term one. She believed Cloudsdale would crumble to pieces, and had no way of knowing that was a blatant lie.

 

But that's not to say she won't look after her friend's well being when she doesn't have an immediate problem to cope with. She's proven this on several occasions as well. One of the most important things she ever did for a friend, after all, was her rescuing of Pinkie Pie from the party's pony's psychological peril. She probably didn't quite understand the depth of Pinkie's emotions, but she knew she couldn't just leave Pinkie in that situation either. Then there's how she looked after Fluttershy in Hurricane Fluttershy, exactly the way she should have. She may have been brash and a bit impatient with Fluttershy at first, but she still looked after her, because Fluttershy is too important to Rainbow Dash.

 

When Rainbow Dash encounters a problem she can't smash through head on, she becomes super frustrated and flustered almost immediately. Whether it's something as arguably mundane as a lack of cider, or as heartbreaking and nerveshattering as an inability to perform a Sonic Rainboom on demand when she was relying on it to help her win a competition, Rainbow Dash tends to lose control of her emotions and her actions. This can manifest differently at different times, but it usually results in an overanxious, even sad loss of confidence. The cider incident saw her trying to eat the cider from dirt, for pony's sake. The ways in which Mare Do Well stomped on her confidence time and again each time she thought she had an edge left her close to the point of a psychological breakdown.

 

Her continuous inability to perform a Sonic Rainboom on demand when she had been able to do so as a filly was the most nerve shattering of all. Rainbow Dash does not usually demonstrate anxiety in performances. Her nervous breakdown during the events of Sonic Rainboom was a result of her potentially seeing her life long dream shattered because she'd spent weeks, months, even possibly years trying to duplicate her feat from her foalhood, and constantly failing. As she is fond of saying herself, Rainbow Dash hates losing. She hates being unable to do something she'd done before even more. She'd gambled her lifelong dream of becoming a Wonderbolt on her performance in the Best Young Flier's Competition, and all of a sudden on top of everything else, here comes Rarity to show her up instead of supporting her. It's no wonder she nearly lost control of herself. Yet even then, even in the midst of that, she still managed to perform. Granted she probably would have been barred from future competitions had she not succeeded with the Rainboom to save Rarity's life, but that's beside the point.

 

The Sonic Rainboom itself is truly special. Through it, Rainbow Dash created a special connection, a bond between her and her future friends that would one day wield the Elements of Harmony to save the world not once, but twice. But why was she unable to perform it on command until she needed it to save Rarity's life? Because the Sonic Rainboom ITSELF is her power of Loyalty. Her sudden ability to perform it as a filly is far too coincidental in its timing to be anything other than the result of her Element. That Sonic Rainboom awakened Fluttershy's ability to communicate with animals, showed Applejack the way home, granted Pinkie Pie the ability to finally, truly smile(as well as possibly awakening her Pinkie Sense), opened the rock for Rarity, and even allowed Twilight to unleash her true magical potential. This one event more than any other forms the basis for why I believe every single one of the Mane Six were BORN to be the spirits of the Elements of Harmony, because here Rainbow Dash proved her Loyalty to her friends before she'd even met them. When she needed it, when she had to save Rarity's life despite the fact that Rarity had arguably ruined the competition as well as Rainbow Dash's chance at obtaining her life-long dream, Rainbow Dash was able to wield the Rainboom again, this time for good.

 

Unfortunately, her Element also leads to one of her biggest failings, her stubborn refusal to accept anything that doesn't fall within her own view on life. When Rainbow Dash gets an idea in her head, she sticks to it, with it. She doesn't let it go and will fight every step of the way with anyone who says otherwise. Like Rarity, Rainbow Dash can have a bit of an ego problem at times. Unlike Rarity, it comes not from a desire to be appreciated so much because it falls right into what Rainbow Dash believes to be fact. She believes she's a fantastic flyer, so when other ponies compliment her on her flying abilities, she's happy to hear it. When she became praised for becoming a local hero for a brief time during the events of The Mysterious Mare Do Well, her ego ran away with her just a tad because again, the accolades she received were those she feel she deserved because she is just that good. She'll pat herself on the back anytime she wins and succeeds, and because she hates losing, she's not against using tricks to ensure her victory. And when she feels an activity is beneath her, she'll scorn it till the cows come home unless something forces her into it. She also hates being something she's not, because she feels she she isn't being loyal to herself and her ideals. Hence why it took a broken wing and a hospital stay to force her to finally start reading for fun, and why it took her so long to admit to her friends that she enjoyed reading.

 

Her Element, however, does not compel Rainbow Dash to follow the rules. Unlike some of her friends, Rainbow Dash is too fanciful, carefree, and chaotic a spirit to be tied down by silly things like rules. If she feels the need, she'll break them whenever she can, and often will flaunt it in the process. She hates losing, so it's no wonder she opted to cheat during the Iron Pony competition and later during the Running of the Leaves. She wanted to finish her book, so she happily committed petty theft without even a hint that she'd feel guilty about it afterwards. She'll prank anyone she feels like--it took Pinkie Pie to keep her from pranking Fluttershy, after all. This isn't to say that she'll just do whatever she wants and damn the consequences, but it does show that when she feels the need, she won't let rules stand in the way, and she won't let them tie her down.

 

This, ultimately, is why I feel she will never succeed in becoming a Wonderbolt. It's not that Rainbow Dash in incapable of performing to the level of standards the Wonderbolts set--she's proven on many occasions that she could probably outperform all of them without breaking a sweat. She was even able to perform a Sonic Rainboom ON THE UPSWING AGAINST GRAVITY during A Canterlot Wedding, from a cold start at that. It's also not the fact that Rainbow Dash is totally incapable of discipline--she isn't. She keeps a regular training schedule and constantly practices. She even has a black belt in karate, the sort of thing one can't exactly earn if they're incapable of disciplining themselves. But Rainbow Dash does not allow rules to tie her down. The Wonderbolts, being the kind of organization they are, based upon the real world Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, and other military air flight teams, would likely require that same level of military discipline from Rainbow Dash. As anyone, including myself, who has had experience with being in the military can tell you, the kind of set schedule and demand for doing every single thing as someone else says would drive Rainbow Dash utterly insane. She doesn't really live her life with any sort of structure. She naps when she wants to, does her weather work when she wants to, trains when she wants to, and does everything when SHE wants to, not when someone else tells her to do something. She just wouldn't be able to stand the level of demand they would place upon her.

 

Even if she could stand it though, I imagine she wouldn't much care for life as a Wonderbolt. She might enjoy the spectacle, the adoration, the ability to strut her stuff for everyone to see and get paid for it at that, but she wouldn't be able to spend time with her friends. She'd miss them too much. More importantly, her sense of Loyalty would come into play again, compelling her to return to her friends and her life in Ponyville and stay with them. In fact, this is how I suspect an episode dealing with her joining the Wonderbolts would go. She would succeed, join them, and then feel so much regret that she'd quit and return to her old life. What she would do with her life after that, I don't know, but she would figure out something. Rainbow Dash is not the type to become morosely depressed and suffused with anxiety for too long. She would find another passion to pour her life into.

 

That, really is, the heart of what makes Dashie who she is. She's passionate. She takes charge. When she wants something, she makes it happen, and doesn't let others stand in her way. She sticks by her friends throughout it all, and can be counted on to always be there for them when they need her. Her depth can take time to appreciate, and her abrasive behavior can rub some the wrong way, but I feel she's a fantastic character because of the traits. With luck, future episodes in Season Three and hopefully beyond will explore this depth in more detail. Like the rest of the Mane Six, she deserves it.

Edited May 24, 2012 by Kyronea Tich

[Speedy Transition 788]

Saw all the text...

 

No im joking haha, very good! Took me a while to read it, and im still not done hahaha.

Nice

[WhiteLightning 339]

Amazingly detailed,

 

I really like your psychological analysis series! Looking forward to the next entry!

[Radiance64 7,053]

Fantastic, I think I appreciate RD a bit more after reading that.

[I used to be a stranger 7,993]

Not as much subtext as the other characters, eh?

 

I imagine you're right; one like that has their own level of convictions which follow a standard of personal creation unless otherwise forced.

She may never join the Wonderbolts.... but wilder stallions have been tamed...

Edited May 16, 2012 by Blue

[Proctra Music 335]

I always love reading these! It's like a present!

 

Anyhoof another great analysis I love me my RD. Still my fav mane 6 character!

[Nas 2,873]

Ah, an entry about my favorite character. I gotta check this out.

 

I appreciate your time and care of the speculation and very, VERY thorough and explanatory works from knowing everything of the show amd it's characters, as well as their personalities. I am hoping you won't discontinue this series anytime soon.

[Whiteshade 1,426]

Its pretty in depth, as always

 

Rainbow Dash is best pony

[Yellow Diamond 7,571]

Kyronea, what do you think about the in-fandom joke about Dash really being the Element of Honesty while AJ is the Element of Loyalty? Applejack features a fair number of traits which are appropriate for Dash's Element, and Dashie is more or less a straight shooter. Conversely, AJ is given to finessing the truth (e.g., "The Last Round Up") while Dash has occasionally been more readily tempted to abandon her loyalties (e.g., "Friendship is Magic, Part 2"). While I ultimately believe the both of them are well suited for their respective Elements, I wonder how you would assess the basic premises of the counterarguments (i.e., that AJ and Dash should "trade" Elements) based on what you understand to be the core tenets of Dash's character.

[NavelColt 22,881]

To be frank I don't have the focus to read all the way through any of these, but skimming, it's a very nice analysis~

[Queen Cassie 3,057]

Everyone, thank you for your kind words.

 

Kyronea, what do you think about the in-fandom joke about Dash really being the Element of Honesty while AJ is the Element of Loyalty? Applejack features a fair number of traits which are appropriate for Dash's Element, and Dashie is more or less a straight shooter. Conversely, AJ is given to finessing the truth (e.g., "The Last Round Up") while Dash has occasionally been more readily tempted to abandon her loyalties (e.g., "Friendship is Magic, Part 2"). While I ultimately believe the both of them are well suited for their respective Elements, I wonder how you would assess the basic premises of the counterarguments (i.e., that AJ and Dash should "trade" Elements) based on what you understand to be the core tenets of Dash's character.

 

The joke about their Elements having been switched relies on two basic, fundamentally flawed premises.

 

1. The Elements are as simple as they appear to be on the surface, taken literally, without examining every angle or possible way they could be employed.

 

2. That any possible deviation from the assumption of how the Element works constitutes a failure of the pony to live up to that Element and, correspondingly, incapable of being that Element.

 

The failing of the first should be self-explanatory, as I've already detailed with both Applejack and Rainbow Dash has their Elements are more than they appear to be at first glance.

 

The second should be fairly clear as well. The ponies are not perfect beings, nor should they be. They can be tempted, they can finagle and twist their Elements from time to time. Every pony has shown that in one way or another.

 

But ultimately I feel that joke isn't funny and falls apart when closely examined. Rainbow Dash isn't quite the Element of Honesty nor could she qualify. While she may be stubborn and angered by ideas that contradict what she believes, she is stubborn for and angered by different reasons than that which drives Applejack. She also freely lies and cheats when it suits her means. Most importantly, being blunt isn't necessarily being Honest.

 

Applejack, on the other hand, may be trustworthy and dependable, but just being dependable does not make one an Element of Loyalty. Using that argument any of the Mane Six could be the Element of Loyalty. What sets Rainbow Dash apart is how she expresses her Element, in one way or another, in every aspect of her life, just as Applejack does. Even when Applejack was finessing the truth, she did it in an effort to stay true to what she had promised. Her pride interfered and caused her to leave out bits and details, but she still upheld her Element, albeit in a slightly twisted manner. Dashie's temptation of loyalty in the pilot is hardly even worth mentioning because she was never going to actually accept that offer, and she made it pretty clear at that.

 

The thing about Honesty and Loyalty is that these two Elements really go hand in hand in a lot of ways, and there are aspects that apply to both. I can see why people would like to joke that Applejack and Rainbow Dash have switched their Elements, but it just doesn't hold up in my eyes. I'd just as soon see that joke vanish entirely.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Kyronea Tich

[Dave247 568]

As usual, great analysis Kyronea.

I haven't put much thought into Dash joining the Wonderbolts other then it will probably happen one day because such a big deal is made about it and I have agreed with when people have said she will also leave due to her friends in some way.

What you have said about this makes the most sense to me and because it was so thought through I can't see any flaws in it which makes it the basis possible future episode in my mind.

[Crystal Sparkle 344]

Wow...I see RD in a whole new light now, I thought she was just a boaster who was starved for attention, but now I see there's more to her than just that...thanks again, Ky!

[Cain 24]

Rainbow Dash = Best pony.

 

This psych evaluation only strengthened that.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Cain

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

I always thought that Rainbow Dash wasn't that much of an intricate character, but this Analyses... http://mlpforums.com/public/style_emoticons/default/dry.png Might just change my mind.

[DiscordxChaos 34]

Great analysis! So extremely detailed!

[Mr. Jaguar 1,403]

Edited May 27, 2012 by Pegasus25

[Kitt Anuva 2]

Bravo! I applaud you. You described the very reason Dashie is the best pony in my opinion. In face, I am like her in a lot of ways and in the ways I am not like her, I wish I could be. Again, nicely done!